Demand for Lokayukta steps up

Over 100 members of the Karnataka Jagruthi Janandolana and various other organisations gathered for a dharna at Freedom Park on Monday morning  to urge the government to stop playing ‘dirty political games’ and appoint a Lokayukta   immediately.

The voice of the civil society was strengthened by the former Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde, who said that the government is meandering away from the issue at hand. “The government is now arguing that the case is before the court and so they cannot appoint a Lokayukta, but what were they till now? This clearly looks like a forced intentional move from higher ups, who just do not want to fill the position that has been vacant for so long. When you do not want to do something, you find excuses. This is what is happening right now,” Hegde said.

Freedom fighter H S Doreswamy, who led the group, said, “The government has no business to keep the position of the ombudsman vacant for so long. We are strictly demanding that the position be filled immediately. It is a known fact that all political parties are conspiring together to keep the position vacant and protect their respective corrupt people.”

Other protesting members added that the civil society has all rights to question the government and that they are fed up with the Chief Minister’s ‘hollow promises’ to appoint a Lokayukta  immediately.

“We have been silent for so long and now the government is just taking advantage of our silence. If the government wants to find someone, there are many retired judges. Instead, the CM has been busy presenting exaggerated figures at the Global Investors Meet. He has to look at his state and follow the court order,” said Jayashree J N of the National Federation of Indian Women.

Further, the members added that the current Upa Lokayukta S B Majage is working hard to attend to every case that comes in.

“He told us that his work has doubled. He has to supply material for all court cases, while having to deal with cases that come into his office everyday,” Doreswamy explained.

Members of the Rajya Raitha Sangha, Samata Sainik Dal, National Federation for Indian Women, Anubandha and Yelahanka Jana Jagruthi Sangha participated in the dharna that will go on for six days.

At the end of the protest, the members have organised a march, approach the chief minister and get their demands heard.